Free Deal of a Lifetime by Rue Allyn Page A

someplace more comfortable.” Taking her arm, he led her along the side of the terminal complex to a private entrance.
    “I don’t think—” Before she could complete her protest, he had the door unlocked and ushered her inside.
    More like a lair than an office, the room had a floor-to-ceiling fireplace where a steady fire burned, a bearskin rug covered the hardwood between the hearth, and a genuine Hudson Bay blanket decorated the long wide sofa.
    “Have a seat.” Mike’s husky tones came from behind her. “I’ll take your coat and hat.”
    His hands settled on her shoulders. She shrugged them off, held on to her coat, and turned to face him. “I don’t intend to be here long enough to get comfortable. I told Con I’d meet him in a few minutes, and I always keep my word.”
    “I’m sure Con will understand.” Mike’s smile softened, and he leaned casually against the fireplace stones.
    Had she not been smitten with Con, that devastating smile might have blown her objections and good sense to flinders.
    “Perhaps, but I see no reason why he should have to understand. Please get to the point.”
    Mike gave her a liquid eyed, puppy dog stare. “The point is that you’re an intelligent woman. I find intelligent women very attractive.”
    “Thank you for the compliment, but I’m intelligent enough to recognize a come-on when I hear one. You said you wanted to discuss my proposal. If you want something else, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”
    He straightened and stepped closer, taking her hand to toy with her fingers.
    Con did the same thing at every opportunity, but he knew from personal experience that rubbing his thumb across her knuckles made her shiver. Mike was simply a master player and would probably try any number of tricks to undermine her defenses. Luckily his touch left her cold.
    “We’ll get to your proposal, eventually.” He leaned in for a kiss.
    Tam backed away, then skirted around him, headed for the door. “Just in case I didn’t make myself clear yesterday, I don’t trade sex for favors. If that’s what it takes to get a Buddswell contract, I don’t want one.”
    Mike refused to part with her hand. “I respect your principles. What if I told you my attraction to you has nothing to do with business?”
    “I have a hard time believing that, given your reputation and the fact that my proposal is still on the table.”
    He tugged on her hand reeling her toward him. “Then we’ll take it off the table. I’ve got plenty of other ways to help your business.”
    Tam resisted, finally pulling her hand free when she was no more than two steps from him. “I don’t think you understand. I won’t trade sex for anything.”
    “So it’s Con you want. I have a lot more money than he does.”
    Finally Tam lost her patience. “If money motivated me, I would have married Con long ago.” The statement forced her to face the truth; she’d been so afraid Con didn’t really love her she had convinced herself it was true. If she believed him, and she had little reason not to, she had to admit fear of neglect had been the real reason she’d hesitated when he talked of marriage. Fear of losing Susa had kept her silent. Tam was still afraid, but not of Buddswell. “If you can’t respect me and treat me as you would any other business colleague, I’ve wasted my time and will be leaving this conference as quickly as I can.” She turned on her heel and stormed away.
    Outside, she followed the path back toward the terminal, then found the sign that pointed toward the lookout. She walked at a rapid clip until she rounded a curve and lost sight of the buildings. She slowed her steps so she could regain her composure.
    Men! They would say or do just about anything to get what they wanted. Not one of the manipulative bastards cared about the truly important things like ethical behavior and love of family. She wouldn’t be seduced by Buddswell, and she wouldn’t be manipulated by Con. He